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XT600 Tenere metal particles in oil filter XT600 Tenere metal particles in oil filter
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Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
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It's going to be a long 300km...
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  #1  
Old 7 Mar 2022
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XT600 Tenere metal particles in oil filter
Hi,

When changing the oil, I decided to inspect the oil filter and have discovered metal particles within the filter..... is this a sign of impending doom??

I usually have a quick glance at the filter pleats when changing oil, but never pulled it apart and really inspected, so not sure if this was present at previous oil changes also. Some particles were magnetic, some not, so assuming some steel and some aluminium, sized maybe about 0.25-0.75mm, hopefully the picture has attached. The oil looked ok when drained out into a can, nothing alarming visible, just what was in the oil filter.

Ive had a peek at the cams through the inspection caps and they look ok, but havent delved further yet. The bike starts and runs fine, doesnt sound any louder than usual.

its a 1988 XT600 Tenere 3aj with 26,000 miles on the clock. I bought it with only 1700 miles on the clock about 3 years ago which were genuine miles and always followed the oil changes to the letter, tried to keep out of top gear till over 55mph, knowing how they dont like being lugged in 5th, but maybe i wasnt careful enough...

What do we think, is this the start of the end, or is some metal to be expected?

XT600 Tenere metal particles in oil filter-img_20220306_152634_545.jpg
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  #2  
Old 7 Mar 2022
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Some metal is to be expected. How much is normal, I don't know.

It is the tiniest particles that are able to pass through your filter and circulates that cause the most engine wear. You can even buy magnetic rings to put on your oil filter to catch these tiny particles. There are also magnetic drain plugs, but those that go on the oil filter are supposedly most effective. Personally I don't bother with either, and don't really think it matters much.

Your thumper is getting a few KM's on it. It is not very uncommon to give a single cylindered thumper a top end rebuild when they reach 50.000 kms.
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  #3  
Old 7 Mar 2022
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezra Hardy View Post
Hi,

When changing the oil, I decided to inspect the oil filter and have discovered metal particles within the filter..... is this a sign of impending doom??

I usually have a quick glance at the filter pleats when changing oil, but never pulled it apart and really inspected, so not sure if this was present at previous oil changes also. Some particles were magnetic, some not, so assuming some steel and some aluminium, sized maybe about 0.25-0.75mm, hopefully the picture has attached. The oil looked ok when drained out into a can, nothing alarming visible, just what was in the oil filter.

Ive had a peek at the cams through the inspection caps and they look ok, but havent delved further yet. The bike starts and runs fine, doesnt sound any louder than usual.

its a 1988 XT600 Tenere 3aj with 26,000 miles on the clock. I bought it with only 1700 miles on the clock about 3 years ago which were genuine miles and always followed the oil changes to the letter, tried to keep out of top gear till over 55mph, knowing how they dont like being lugged in 5th, but maybe i wasnt careful enough...

What do we think, is this the start of the end, or is some metal to be expected?

Attachment 25802
Never had particles like this in filter, always check and 30k miles no rebuilt. Try drainbolt with magnet to see what happens.
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  #4  
Old 8 Mar 2022
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XT Tenere metal particles in oil filter
Hi EZRA HARDY,

You have the classic early XT600 engine failure. Smart of you to find it, many don't.
It is the failure of 5th gear which provides the particles that destroy the oil pump leading to loss of oil pressure with eventual seizing of the piston in the cylinder.
Yamaha worked on this problem over the years but only with the 1st 660 3YF models did they make a wider gear that was also fitted to 4PT 600s.

The last good gears 2JT if you can find them. Don't bother with anything else, will just cost you another oil pump, unless someone else has a good solution i don't know about.

I fitted 3YF gears to a 2KF but it needs careful machining. They are availabe and it is pretty well covered here if you search.

Best,
p
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  #5  
Old 8 Mar 2022
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Hmmm, sounds like potential doom.

I will have to delve further to investigate at some point, but it might just be the start of the dreaded 5th gear wear. It did feel like it was making a slight noise in 5th possibly, but seemed to be when it was at lower revs than you should really be in 5th, i.e around 3000rpm, 3500rpm and up sounded ok, didnt feel significant enough to worry me, but now....

If it is, this is very disappointing as it has been a very reliable bike so far and taken me to some interesting places, capable of doing some big miles in relative comfort and also being good on the trails.

It will be fixed one way or another.

Thanks

Ezra
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Old 9 Mar 2022
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From what I've read on this forum 26000 mls(42000km) is a common mileage for 5th gear wear to become a problem on the early models like yours.
Bob
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  #7  
Old 9 Mar 2022
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezra Hardy View Post
Hmmm, sounds like potential doom.

I will have to delve further to investigate at some point, but it might just be the start of the dreaded 5th gear wear. It did feel like it was making a slight noise in 5th possibly, but seemed to be when it was at lower revs than you should really be in 5th, i.e around 3000rpm, 3500rpm and up sounded ok, didnt feel significant enough to worry me, but now....

If it is, this is very disappointing as it has been a very reliable bike so far and taken me to some interesting places, capable of doing some big miles in relative comfort and also being good on the trails.

It will be fixed one way or another.

Thanks

Ezra
Ezra - where are you based? If it's in the U.K. then David Lambeth is the man you should talk to.

Thanks,

Ed
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  #8  
Old 10 Mar 2022
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Hi,

Yes, I'm UK based and aware of Mr Lambeth, I may have to send him a message.

If it is 5th gear trouble, then it'll be a full strip down, I'm confident I can do the work, its just getting hold of the parts that might be an issue.

I understand that David rebuilds them with different of gears from later models so this shouldn't happen again, but exactly which combination, he wont say, for obvious reasons.

Thanks

Ezra
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  #9  
Old 11 Mar 2022
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Ezra's reading comprehension test

"I understand that David rebuilds them with different of gears from later models so this shouldn't happen again, but exactly which combination, he wont say, for obvious reasons."

What did i write?
"Yamaha worked on this problem over the years but only with the 1st 660 3YF models did they make a wider gear that was also fitted to 4PT 600s."

David Lambeth is a very good suggestion. He has had 100s of bike to perfect the best solution possible while i've had 3.

And refresher on Yamaha part numbers; xxx 17151 xx is a 5th gear pinion, on any bike. 5Y1 17151 xx was 1st used on XT550 coded 5Y1.
Susequent years saw 1VJ, 3AJ ......1999-2001 3YF. An execption... 2JT, where did that come from?

Here is what i did:
www.horizonsunlimited.com › hubb › xt600-5th-gear-wear-solution-80123

ps: prefix 2JT 5th gear pairs are still advertised on line. Not as good as Mr Lambeth's, but just bolt in. Must fit as pair, tooth counts changed.

best.
p
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  #10  
Old 11 Mar 2022
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pete j View Post
Hi EZRA HARDY,

You have the classic early XT600 engine failure. Smart of you to find it, many don't.
It is the failure of 5th gear which provides the particles that destroy the oil pump leading to loss of oil pressure with eventual seizing of the piston in the cylinder.
Yamaha worked on this problem over the years but only with the 1st 660 3YF models did they make a wider gear that was also fitted to 4PT 600s.

Indeed, the elephant in the xt600 room that no owner likes to talk about. BTW, the three XT660 engines i cannibalized for parts for my Supermono racer also had shot 5th gears.... improved or not, looks like the problem was not entirely solved in the water cooled 5 valvers...
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